Free The Independents by Joe Nobody

cumbersome in light of today’ s tangled, mass of bureau cracy . The tax code, the Federal Reserve, the justice system and many, many other core components of the United States had either outlived their usefulness or had been gamed by small groups of powerful men. The Independents sought to rebuild government as it was envisioned by the founding fathers. One of the senator’s staffers had even compared the organization of t he Independents to a S econd American Revolution.
    Moreland could understand the association. This revolution was to have been different in so many ways though. Rather than muskets and cannon s , the internet and media were to be the primary weapons. There was no foreign king to overthrow, nor was there any foreign military occupation on U.S. soil. Over a year ago, when they had first began to seriously organize and recruit new members, he remembered talking to a group of senior military commanders about the movement . One of the attendees observed that a foreign military occupation would make their cause more palatable and could thus serve as a catalyst for their recruitment efforts. Rebelling against an outsid e presence required no soul-searching or evaluation for the average citizen . Little did Moreland o r anyone else know how prophetic that observation had been. No one could have predicted that within a year so many citizens of the United States would live under military control and martial law.
    An illegal martial law brought about by an illegal order to execute a nuclear strike against a foreign power . Th at’s what the honorable gentlema n from West Virginia kept telling himself . So many of their actions in the last few months had been justified by that belief. No honorable man, no patriot, no one who loves his country could sanction what t he Independents had accomplished in the last few months without such a justification. To undermine the elected authority of the peop le, t he President of the United States, during a time of such dire national crisi s couldn’t be reconciled by any other means. The president had broken the law with those two orders . If the country hadn’t fallen into the abyss, no doubt he would have been impeached. His executive powers were no longer legitimate.
    The s enator turned and walked back toward the kitchen. His loyal aid e of over 35 years was busy preparing dinner, flashing his boss a quick smile. “More tea , sir?”
    Moreland paused for a moment before responding, “No , Wayne . O ne is enough for me today. The sunshine is thawing these old bones , no need for a second cup of warmth.”
    Wayne inquired , “Our guests will be arriving with in the hour , sir. Do you require anything of me before your meeting?”
    The s enator was reassured by Wayne ’s concern, “Just the usual fine food you always manage to prepare , Wayne .”
    “Of course , Senator. Y our words are too kind. We are blessed to still have the materials for me to work with.”
    Wayne was a l ittle surprised when Moreland stayed in the kitchen. He normally didn’t spend much time here , and it seemed like his old friend had something on his mind.
    H e came immediately to the point. “ Wayne , am I a traitor?”
    Wayne didn’t even look up f rom the potatoes he was slicing. “What is a traitor, sir? One man’s freedom fighter is another man’s traitor. One man’s revolutionary is another man’s rebel.”
    The older man chuckled. “Okay, so we’re going to debate definitions here , are we? You know what I mean Wayne . You know me better than anyone on this earth. Is there any chance history will look at me with the critical eye of s edition?”
    Despite his culinary duties, Wayne didn’t even hesitate. “Senator, perhaps you should rest before your meeting. You aren’t thinking clearly, sir. History will be written by the victor. You, of all people, should know that. If our cause fails, you will be re membered as the man who stalled the recovery of the United States of